Impact of Boloso-1 Taro Production on Livelihood Security of Farming Communities in Kindo Koyisha and Duguna Fango Woredas, Wola

Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: D Agriculture and Veterinary Volume 16 Issue 4 Version 1.0 Year 2016 Type : Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4626 & Print ISSN: 0975-5896

Impact of Boloso-1 Taro Production on Livelihood Security of Farming Communities in Kindo Koyisha and Duguna Fango Woredas, Wolaita Zone By Zekarias Bassa, Bereket Zeleke, Tessema Erchafo & Ashenafi Mekonin Areka Agricultral Research center Abstract- Root crops in general and taro in particular are the main food crop, the only and livelihood dependant highly productive and multifunctional crop that used for as livestock feed supplement and human food item in southern Ethiopia, but its role in food and nutritional security had not been studied and well documented, consequently less attention was given in development agenda of the country. Hence, the study was aimed to undertake investigation in livelihood role Improved taro variety that helps in generation information on role of improved taro for farming communities in the district. The study was undertaken in Kindo koisha Woreda and Duguna Fango Woreda of Wolaita zone Administrative. The study revealed that the contribution of taro on the overall livelihoods of the beneficiaries is significantly high. The impact of Boloso-1- Taro ranges from saving life to reduction of migration and school dropout rates. It has also diversified income for the beneficiary farmers in general and able to generate income from selling taro production that empowered women and changed the family’s living status. Keywords: bolos 1 taro, food crop, livelihood, productive. GJSFR-D Classification : FOR Code: 070199

ImpactofBoloso1TaroProductiononLivelihoodSecurityofFarmingCommunities inKindoKoyishaandDugunaFangoWoredasWolaitaZone

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© 2016. Zekarias Bassa, Bereket Zeleke, Tessema Erchafo & Ashenafi Mekonin. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Impact of Boloso-1 Taro Production on Livelihood Security of Farming Communities in Kindo Koyisha and Duguna Fango Woredas, Wolaita Zone

Zekarias Bassa α, Bereket Zeleke σ, Tessema Erchafo ρ & Ashenafi Mekonin Ѡ 201

Abstract- Root crops in general and taro in particular are the development programs working in the district. One of the ea main food crop, the only and livelihood dependant highly challenges exist in the study area is lack adequate of Y productive and multifunctional crop that used for as livestock improved taro seed, erratic rain fall, untimely supply of the 851 feed supplement and human food item in southern Ethiopia, seed, awareness problem in value addition practices using but its role in food and nutritional security had not been taro as livestock supplement, which is pertinent for studied and well documented, consequently less attention was improvement of yield and efficient utilization of the resources given in development agenda of the country. Hence, the study thereby improve the food and nutritional security of farming

was aimed to undertake investigation in livelihood role communities in sustainable manner. Hence, adequate and V Improved taro variety that helps in generation information on timely improved taro seed dissemination, adoption of value role of improved taro for farming communities in the district. chain development cattle fattening, milling and linking IV ue ersion I

The study was undertaken in Kindo koisha Woreda and producers to market benefit and scaling up believed further s Duguna Fango Woreda of Wolaita zone Administrative. The optimize the crop productivity there by play a significant role in s study revealed that the contribution of taro on the overall nutritional and food security improvement of the communities. I livelihoods of the beneficiaries is significantly high. The impact The policy implication of study result indicates that strong XVI of Boloso-1-Taro ranges from saving life to reduction of policy support and due consideration is need for root and migration and school dropout rates. It has also diversified tuber crops that is comparable to their role in the livelihoods of income for the beneficiary farmers in general and able to farmers in southern Ethiopia. generate income from selling taro production that empowered Keywords: bolos 1 taro, food crop, livelihood, productive. women and changed the family’s living status. Hunger and ) D complete poverty has been eradicated from the project sites I. Introduction ( mainly due to taro intervention. The study also confirmed that the improved taro variety played a significant role in price a) Background and justification stabilization in the district, which justified by the market price n Southern Ethiopia, root and tuber crops are one of reduction of common food crops after intervention in the the traditional food crops. As they are alternatives to Research Volume district. Taro overrides most common crops interims of yield cereals, their contribution to food-self-sufficiency, per hectare, adaptability to different areas, price stability, I drought tolerance, scalability, climate resilience, multifunction income generation and soil based resource nature (human food and livestock supplement). Regression conservation is indispensable. Among those root and Frontier tuber crops grown in Ethiopia, enset, potato, sweet result of factors determining the productivity of improved Boloso 1 taro indicated that the productivity of the specific potato, taro and cassava are the principal crops (Yared, crop varies across farming community due to social, cultural, 2014; Tewdros, 2013). Science natural and environmental capability of the households. From

Taro is a highly prized and dominant staple of explanatory variables used in the regression, attendance in food in the subsistent sectors; and an important source formal education, extent of family drop outs, quantity of farm of cash income when marketed locally. Unlike other root tools the household own, yield of other major crops and market distance to farmers’ residence significantly affected crops, taro performs well under water logged conditions Journal productivity of improved taro. Attendance in formal education, and can stay for prolonged period of time after harvest farm tools owned, other major crops yield positively affected without damage. Because of this nature of the the productivity, while the extent of family drop outs and commodity, its production is becoming massive and Global market distance negatively influenced the extent of improved has been contributing a lot for areas under chronic food taro yield collected per households. The study result insecurity (Yared and Tewdros .,2014;African Bioscience confirmed that enabling the farming communities to attend Challenge Fund, 2012). formal education, owning adequate farm tools and improving the farm management capabilities ought to be the major The most important feature of taro is its good assignment for the projects and other agricultural adaptability, resistant to different diseases and produce high amount of yields in different areas especially on Author α σ ρ Ѡ: Areka Agricultural Research Centre, Areka. tropical environments (Tewodros, 2013). The e-mails: [email protected], [email protected] consumption of both taro and sweet potato is threefold:

human food, animal feed and the production of alcohol guide for future programming was also another goal of and starch. Yared. D and Tewdros. M. 2014). the study. Seasonal food shortage is amongst the c) Objectives principal problems of farmers in mid-altitude areas of General Objective Southern Ethiopia. Taro is important part of food security • The overall objective of this study was to conduct packages. Globally, taro is grown over a wide range of impact assessment of taro dissemination on food environments from 1,300-2,300m.a.s.l.; mostly by the and nutrition security of project’s target HHs. resource poor farmers. Its compatibility with various types of limited input farming systems (versatility) and Specific objective reliability under conditions such as drought, high rain • To assess factors affecting productivity of Improved fall, and low soil fertility have made it attractive crop to taro farmers (Yared.et.al, 2014). • To examine impact of improved taro variety

201 To overview the level of introduction and production in food and nutritional security of r adoption of taro technology, to analyze its economic, targeted households.

Yea livelihood and nutritional and food security role for II. ethodology farming community, identify opportunities and M 86 challenges, it is indispensable to carryout and follows a) Site description the multi-sectoral institutions approach to implement this The Wolaita zone is one of the thirteen zones of research. Therefore, this study is planned to undertake the Southern region of Ethiopia covering an area of investigation on impacts of improved taro variety on 4471.3 km2. For administrative purpose it is divided in to V food and nutritional security in Kindo Koyesha and twelve woredas (districts) namely; Boloso Bombe,

IV Duguna Fango woredas of Wolaita zone. Boloso Sore, Damot Gale, Damot Weydie, Damot

ue ersion I Pulasa, Damot Sore, Diguna Fango, Humbo, Kindo s b) Rationale of the assignment s Koysha, Kindo Didaye, Offa and Sodo Zuria. The study I i. Provision of Improved Taro Boloso-1variety – new was carried out in two Woreda namely Duguna Fango

XVI technology ad kindo Kosha(CSA,2014). The project entitled ‘creating resilience through In southern Ethiopia, the root crop area integrated multi-sectorial approach in emergency prone coverage meher cropping season was more than areas of Wolaita Zone’ has been implementing in Kindo 90,000ha in 2014 and its productivity per ha of land Koysha and Duguna Fango woredas of Wolaita Zone in ) estimated to be more than 302 quintal, which was higher

D collaboration with small-holder farmers, GOs and other

( than other food crops in the country. Root crop stakeholders since 2012. The principal objective of this coverage of Wolaita zone was more than 32 000 ha and project was to contribute to the improvement in its productivity estimated to be greater than 336 nutritional status of vulnerable households in Wolaita quintal/ha, which was higher than the region average

Research Volume zone through building their resilience to future shocks. (CSA, 2014.) Among the different tasks of the intervention in the district, enhancing nutritional and food security of target Data Collection and sampling techniques households was one of the major aims of the project. As The two main data collection techniques used Frontier part of the planned activity in this sector, Concern were focus group discussion (FGD) and formal survey worldwide distributed improved Taro Boloso-1 variety techniques. FGD process was guided by checklist that seed to target households. was drafted by the researchers and commented by Science Taro production has been covering large Concern officials and experts for improvement. For

of proportion of the area at the target Woreda. But its FGD, farmers, youth, women, kebele leaders and DAs impact on household’s livelihood, its production were selected purposively representing different age constraints and opportunities were not studied and gender groups based on the involvement of Journal documented and well documented. Therefore, Concern individuals in the process of Taro seed dissemination Worldwide in partnership with Areka Agriculture and utilization. The major challenges of production and Research Centre planned to conduct this study on the productivity of root crops comprised of untimely and Global impact of taro on target households. This study aimed inadequate seed distribution for farming communities, to assess contribution of taro production and marketing erratic rain fall, lack of scientific information on impact of on the project’s targeted household’s livelihoodn in improved taro variety and its role in food and national Kindo Koysha and Duguna Fango woredas of Wolaita security of beneficiary farmers. Hence, the investigation zone. It is also planned to develop strong evidence- on role of Boloso 1 Taro variety in food and nutritional base in-depth information on the seeds contribution in security believe help a lot in generation scientific and food and nutrition security of target households. In timely information, characterize the opportunity and addition, synthesizing knowledge and lessons learned challenges of taro production and identify determinants as a base to scale up these interventions and use as a of productivity of the crop.

Total of four FGD were carried out in two diversification in household, perceptions of beneficiaries kebeles per each woreda partaking 15 individuals per on what has been done, success stories, opportunities FGD in average at the beginning of the study. and constraints of utilizing taro were collected from Information gathered during FGD created the farmers, traders and other participants involved in basic map of the intervention and helped to verify the production and marketing of taro. Role of other actors data collected with survey. It also helped as important including development agents, community workers, resource to develop structured questionnaire for formal agricultural officers and project implementers and survey. supervisors were also assessed to differentiate Nine experienced enumerators were hired and cumulative and individual (Concern Worldwide) trained in administering the structured questionnaire for contributions in the study area. two days. Filled questionnaires were also examined by Information from secondary sources such as the researchers and appropriate comments were Areka Agricultural Research Center (AARC), Concern- forwarded to enumerators for better quality of collected Worldwide (ECHO I end line survey report, Assessment 201 data on the first days of survey. reports, PPDM reports, annual reports, proposal and r ea

The formal survey was carried out on 180 DIP), Central Statistical Authority (CSA), Wolaita zone Y beneficiaries with the help of trained enumerators. The and both woreda agricultural offices is also utilized as a approach by Kothari (2004) was employed to determine complement and reference for our study. All monitoring 871 appropriate sampling size of taro beneficiaries for the data from concern worldwide which is collected since study: n=z2pq/d2: Where n = the sample size z = the beginning of the project, annual action plans and 1.96, P = Population proportion (the proportion of taro reports, quarter progress reports, baseline and end line producer in Kindo Koisha and Duguna Fango. d = the survey reports, assessment reports, project proposal, V significance level set at 95% confidence level. This log frame and M&E plan were reviewed. IV corresponds with a z value of 1.96. q = is a weighting

ue ersion I s variable computed as 1-P. b) Data Analysis s

Primary data was collected by focusing on Descriptive statistical analysis was used to I

overall impacts of the Taro technology intervention define mean, mode, percentage and standard deviation XVI through evaluating socioeconomic characteristics of of important economic variables considered in collecting beneficiaries, contribution of taro on their livelihood in information. In addition to descriptive analysis method, terms of income, food security and market stability, econometric analysis was employed to identify factors

volume of production per farmland with taro and other affecting productivity and contribution of improved taro )

major crops (maize, cassava, sweet potato, sorghum, variety for livelihood of farming community. Linear D potato and teff).Before and after intervention bases. The Regression Model was employed to analyze the ( impact is also evaluated on bridging food gaps in econometric relationship between explanatory and different months, nutritional security and food dependant economic variables. III. Results and Discussion Research Volume Table 1 : School drop outs, migrations before and after the intervention

Years of technology intervention 2003/4EC 2006/7EC Frontier Statistical variable Mean Std. Dev. Mean Std. Dev. Age of the respondent, in years 42.75 9.80

Male No. of school drop outs < 15 years .15 .46 0.07 .34 Science Male No. of school drop outs 15 to 65 years .25 .54 .07 .34 Male No. migrated < 15 years .04 .19 .02 .18 of Male No. migrated 15 to 65 years .17 .42 .07 .34 Female-No. of school drop outs < 15 years .06 .22 .01 .09 Female No. of school drop outs 15 to 65 years .19 .48 .02 .14 Journal Female-No. migrated < 15 years .03 .17 .01 .08 Female-No. migrated 15 to 65 years .11 .33 .02 .13 The average age of framers in the study district secure food security, they engage their children fully in Global was 43 and the age of respondents to other farmers education and the study results confirmed this. The varies in 10 year. The result shows that there is a big main reason for declining of drop outs for both male and difference on the rate of school drop outs and migration female are improvement in food security and between 2011 and 2014. 26% of male students aged infrastructural development. In comparison to males, 15-65 left their study before the end of academic year in the extent of decline in drop outs in females is higher 2011 but it slides down to only 9% in 2014. It dropped than that of males. This is because of opening of new from 14% to 2% in the case of female students at the education centers at the vicinity of communities and same age range. When the farming communities able to other infrastructural development. Introduction of

productive variety of taro contributed a lot in facilitating search of jobs. When the farming communities are able the education process through assuring food security. to secure food at household level, their level of When the migration level is examined, it descended participation in agriculture actively improved and, from 17% to 8% for 15-65 age male and 11% to 2% for consequently, their probability to migrate from place to women. The major causes of migration listed by farming place decline immediately equipments from 2011 to communities are food insecurity, lack of income and 2014. Table 2 : Farm and communication tools ownership before and after the intervention

Years of technology intervention 2003/4EC 2006/7EC

Statistical variable Mean Std. Dev. Mean Std. Dev.

Radio-No. Owned .05 .22 .24 .43

Tape recorder-No. owned .06 .33 .05 .21 201 Phone (mobile)-No. owned .04 .20 .31 .49

r Hoe No. owned in 1.08 .63 1.49 .98

Yea Spade-No. owned in .42 .58 .70 .69

Ox plough (set)-No. owned .71 .73 .84 .73

88 Sickle-No. owned 1.16 1.20 1.58 1.43

Animal cart No. owned .00 .00 .05 .29

The result in above table indicates that communication tool was the outcome of dissemination improved taro beneficiaries have got improvement in of improved Taro variety to the farmers. This study result V access and utilization to communication tools and farm indicates that dissemination of improved taro variety IV implements when compared to the base year made the targeted farmers to develop more farm and ue ersion I

s (2003/4EC) in 2006/7EC. Since the interview beneficiary communication tools and, consequently ownership of s farmers are poor in wealth status at the intervention this equipments played a positive role in improvement in I period, the improvement in agricultural and food and nutritional security.

XVI Table 3 : Roofing materials of beneficiary houses before and after the intervention

Woreda Keble Roofing material of the main house in Roofing material of the main house 2003/4EC(2011) in 2006/7EC (2014) )

( Grass Iron sheet Total Grass Iron sheet Total

Kindo Bade 43 7 50 22 29 51

Koysha Woyde Fechena 39 10 49 16 33 49

Research Volume Duguna Fango 38 6 44 26 18 44 Fango Humbo

Dendo 26 1 27 14 12 10

Frontier Offa Total 146 23 170 78 92 170

Science It is concluded that the roofing material used in goat. This can be explained by the fact that goats are housing can be evidence for the income and livelihood tough animals which can survive drought challenges of status of a household in the study areas. Only 13.5% of and land shortage for grazing through browsing leafy the beneficiaries had a roofing material of iron sheet plants that are not preferred by other animals. In the other hand, even if the enhancement rate of oxen and

Journal before the multi-sectoral resilience building project intervention in which provision of improved Taro was cow ownership is below that of goat, it has been one of the activities. It moved up to 54.11% in 2014. improved from 19% and 61% to 42% and 91%,

Global respectively. Oxen are used mainly as a ploughing of Impact of Improved Taro Dissemination in ownership of the farms. Improvement of cow ownership is a good Livestock ownership is a great opportunity for a family to have milk The result shows that the rate of ownership for in a dish that diversifies their food sources. Moreover, all oxen, cow, heifers, calves, sheep, goats, poultry, bee availability of milk in a dish means a better nutritional hives and donkey has boosted after the intervention in security in household. study Woreda. Different ownership rates are seen among small and large ruminants. For instance, goats were owned by only 18% of the respondents in 2011 but now around 75% of the respondents have at least one

Table 4 : Livestock ownership of farmers in two various years 2014 2011 Mean Std. Dev. Mean Std. Dev. Oxen-No. owned 0.42 0.60 0.19 0.43 Oxen-shared 0.20 0.42 0.11 0.36 Cow No. owned 0.91 0.66 0.61 0.68 Cow shared 0.55 0.67 0.24 0.47 Heifers -No. owned 0.28 0.49 0.06 0.23 Heifers –shared 0.10 0.34 0.02 0.14 Calves -No. owned 0.28 0.48 0.03 0.21 Calves -shared 0.21 0.44 0.01 0.12

Sheep -No. owned 0.49 0.79 0.13 0.50 201

Sheep –shared 0.20 0.55 0.01 0.17 r ea

Goats-No. owned 0.75 1.09 0.18 0.64 Y Goats-shared 0.21 0.55 0.06 0.35 891 Poultry -No. Owned 0.67 1.59 0.06 0.23 Poultry –shared 0.14 0.62 0.01 0.12 Bees hive -No. owned 0.03 0.24 0.00 0.00 Donkey -No. owned 0.17 0.39 0.01 0.08 V The yield of local taro is 2 qt per timad in it still surpasses the local variety by 250% or above three IV average but 7 qt yield can be harvested from Boloso-1- fold. The local taro was consumed continuously for a ue ersion I s taro variety in farmer’s field condition. Even if this result maximum of 2 months as a sole crop but the improved s is far below the documented potential of improved taro, variety can be used for up to 5 months. I

Table 5 : Taro Variety, production and Market pattern XVI

Local Taro Variety production and Market pattern Boloso 1 Taro variety Production and Marketing pattern

Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Dev. Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Dev. )

D Land Area (Timad) in 0.00 1.00 0.06 0.16 0.10 3.00 0.64 0.53 ( 2006/07 Yield (qt) in 2006/07 0.00 50.00 2.07 9.32 0.50 50.00 6.86 8.17

Consumed (qt) in 2006/07 0.00 50.00 3.74 12.9 0.00 50.00 4.05 7.17 Research Volume Sold (qt) in 2006/07 0.00 1.00 0.02 0.15 0.00 180.0 3.02 16.14

No. of months the crop 0.00 8.00 0.57 1.45 0.00 12.00 4.68 2.41

Frontier consumed 2006/07

Quantity Used as a seed 0.00 20.00 0.47 2.46 0.00 (qt) 2003/4 Science Land Area (Timad) in 0.00 25.00 0.63 2.51 0.00 2003/4 of Yield (qt) in 2003/04 0.00 50.00 3.65 9.66 0.00

Consumed (qt) in 2003/4 0.00 40.00 2.15 4.96 0.00 Journal

Taro local-Sold (qt) in 0.00 5.00 0.48 0.81 0.00 2003/4 Global Taro local-No. of months 0.00 12.00 1.88 2.31 0.00 the crop consumed Taro local-Used as a 0.00 50.00 0.99 5.01 0.00 seed (qt) 2003/4

Table 6 : Role of Gender in Taro production and marketing

Activities Gender N Percentage

Planting, Earth up and Husband 130 76.5% weeding Wife 15 8.8% Son 16 9.4%

Daughter 9 5.3%

Harvesting Husband 117 70.1%

Wife 22 13.2% Son 20 12.0% Daughter 8 4.8% 201

r Feeding the livestock Husband 46 27.9%

Yea Wife 81 49.1%

90 Son 30 18.2% Daughter 8 4.8% Marketing of taro Husband 7 4.4% Wife 135 84.9%

V Son 3 1.9%

IV Daughter 14 8.8% ue ersion I s s The study revealed that due to an introduction activities were covered by male. According to this study

I of Boloso-1, an improved taro variety, women have got planting, earth up, weeding and harvesting activities of

XVI access to get cash from the crop. According to the taro production were covered by male, but marketing of survey, 84.9% and 8.8% of the respondents responded taro product and feeding livestock by taro feed were that surplus taro products from the total production in undertaken by women(see the above table). In general, the household were marketed by wife and daughter. in the study area, taro production and marketing has This implies that, in the study area, taro production has contributed a lot to women through empowerment by )

D empowered women by enabling them by diversifying marketing and to earn income better than other crops. ( their cash source. But the majority of the production

Research Volume Frontier Science of Journal Global

The major crops namely maize, common Farmer’s General Perception on Taro beans, cassava, potato and taro are compared by The study revealed that Boloso-1, an improved respondents for different parameters indicated in the taro variety, has contributed more to crop productivity above figure. The criteria were yield per ha, adaptability improvement, increased farm income, reduced to their agro-ecology, income generating ability, drought migration, generate employment opportunities and tolerance, market stability, weed tolerance, scalability, improvement in nutritions at household level, but shelf life, livestock feed, harvesting duration, and majority of the respondents responded that they are disease and pest tolerance. According to the study, taro indifferent about the contribution of taro to women is ranked first by most parameters such as yield per ha, empowerement. Accordinglly, the graph below shows adaptability to different areas, drought tolerance, market the general perception of the respondents on the stability, scalability, disease and pest tolerance and contribution of the taro for livelihood improvement in the contribution to family health. The harvesting duration of study area hence majority of the respondents were

Taro is longer than most major crops except cassava. strongly agreed that Boloso-1 has contributed to poverty 201

The relative advantage of producing taro on stabilizing reduction at household level. But some of the r ea the market has been mentioned by 63.5% of the total respondents were responded that they don’t know Y respondents. about contribution of taro to poverty reduction. 911

V IV ue ersion I s s I XVI

) D (

Research Volume Frontier Science of

Fig. Graphical presentation of farmers’ perception on contribution of taro for poverty reduction Journal

This study revealed that most of the taro producers have knowledge about the contribution of Global taro to living standard improvement at household level in the study area. According to the survey undertaken more than 60% of the respondents responded that they were strongly agreed with the contribution of taro to improvements in living standards of the community in the study area.

92 V IV ue ersion I s s I

XVI Fig. Graphical presentation of farmers’ perception on contribution of taro to living standard improvements According to the study, because of the taro food items their family’s daily meal. As the study introduction of Boloso-1, an improved taro variety, in the revealed majority of the respondents strongly agreed ) study area the average nutrition level was increased at that their households’ average nutrition level is D ( household level as the have got access to incorporate increased due to taro introduction. Research Volume Frontier Science of Journal Global

Success stories is locally named ‘Bereket’ by farmers indicating the Ato Moges Mota is one of Concern worldwide better yield and its power to fill household consumption beneficiaries in Damot Shinka Kebele of Duguna Fango demand”. This story is shared by many beneficiaries in Woreda. He took 2 quintals of taro seed from Concern Kindo Koyisha. worldwide in March 2013. He planted it on quarter hectares of land and harvested 10 quintals of taro product. He sold six qt, used two qt for home consumption and two qt saved as a seed. By using money from selling taro, he bought a donkey, which is very important animal commonly used to transport his agricultural inputs to his farm and farm products to markets at woreda center and nearby kebeles. Then, he planted his taro seed in the same farm in 2014 and got 201

500 birr by selling some part of taro product. He bought r ea sheep and started rearing it. This diversified his farm as Y additional livestock component and contributed to 931 building household asset. Sheep is raised mainly to be sold as income source during public festivals and it can also be consumed in home for holidays or slaughtered as additional food for mothers when they deliver a baby.

Similar stories are common in both project woredas. V

W/ro Almaz Meskele is also a farmer and a IV

woman household head in Duguna Damot Shinka ue ersion I s Kebele of Duguna Fango Woreda. She was not able to s feed and educate her children due to her low economic I status; therefore, two of her sons were migrated to XVI Bitena and Wolaita Soddo towns to look for better life. After receiving the same amount of Taro seed in 2013, she collected eight quintals. Then, she sold four,

consumed two and kept two qt as a seed. Then, she ) brought her children back to home and started life D ( together with them. She bought clothes and important educational items for her children. Now they are students in grade 5 and 7. She is also so proud to witness the market stabilizing effect of Boloso -1- Taro Research Volume and nonexistence of mal-nutrition problem in the area after introduction of taro seed by Concern worldwide.

She said “every food commodity becomes cheaper in Frontier Taro harvesting months and diseases related to food shortage are almost forgotten”. “We lost almost 50% of newly born children before few years, but now it has Science been history”. W/ro Mogite Pola is one of woman household of heads in Borkoshe Kebele of Kindo Koysha Woreda. She was the poorest person who had nothing to eat before taking a part in Concern interventions. She took Journal 2.5 quintals of Boloso 1 Taro at the beginning of interventions. She was not able to plant all Taro seed Global provided to her on her own land since she has a challenge of land shortage. Then, she took the remaining taro seed to farmers who are not involved in the project. She planted it there with a consensus to share the product. She saved 80% of the taro product as a food source and the remaining is deposited as a seed. Now she is free from extreme hunger and very glad for that. She said, ‘Boloso 1 Taro is a Blessing as it

Table 7 : Results of Linear Regressions Analysis (dependant variable Yield of Bolos 1 Taro collected in 2006)

Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized T Sig. Collinearity Statistics

Coefficients

B Std. Error Beta Tolerance VIF (Constant) -.153 3.180 -.048 .962 sex 1M2F .038 .212 .009 .182 .856 .882 1.134 Age .066 .062 .065 1.069 .288 .565 1.771 formal edu/not 1.66 .978 .087 1.696 .094* .800 1.249 total Family siz -.228 .377 -.059 -.606 .547 .222 4.508 Family indepdsiz .216 .451 .048 .478 .634 .208 4.809 family drop outs 2006 -2.152 .898 -.151 -2.397 .019** .528 1.893 HH Migration 2006 .281 1.518 .010 .185 .854 .695 1.439 201 Extent of agricultural facilities 1.88 1.078 .098 1.746 .085* .667 1.499 Extent of market info. facilities -.175 .410 -.025 -.427 .671 .600 1.668 Year crop yield 2006 .368 .019 .972 18.903 .000*** .797 1.254 total cattle 2006 .222 .289 .042 .767 .446 .693 1.444 94 shot 2006 .042 .333 .007 .126 .900 .739 1.352 chicken 2006 -.186 .450 -.021 -.413 .681 .815 1.227 market dist -.389 .121 -.177 -3.201 .002*** .686 1.457 Income from taro 2006 .001 .003 .011 .200 .842 .747 1.339 remittance income 2006 .014 .018 .047 .787 .434 .594 1.683 V Model summary R R Square Adjusted R square Std.error of the estimate IV .944 0.891 0.868 6.413 ue ersion I

s Significance level: ***,** and * justifies significany at 1%,5% and 10% respectively.

XVI The econometric approach employed was family drop outs increase by one unit, the extent of taro linear regression Model to sort out institutional, social yield decreased by more than 2 unit, keeping other

and biological factors that contributes for improvement independent variables constant. Since the family in the yield of improved taro disseminated by the Project members dropped out the education move to other area to targeted beneficiaries. From the explanatory variables in search of jobs and income earning activities, their )

D employed, market distance in km, other major crop contribution for taro production becomes zero inform of ( yield, quantity of household information facilities (radio, seed preparation, land cultivation, weeding and tape recorder and mobile) owned, attendance in formal harvesting tasks that have high value in productivity of education and extent of family drop outs significantly the specific crop, consequently the number of family

Research Volume affected the yield of improved taro collected per drop outs negatively affected the productivity. household. Quantity of farm tools owned: The coefficients of the Attendance in formal education: Attendance in formal predicator was 1.88. This indicates that havening one Frontier education was one of explanatory variable affect extra agricultural facilities such as hoe, ox plough set significantly the level of taro production in 2006EC fiscal and spade, induces increment in the yield of Taro

year and defined as 1 for those attended formal productivity at household level, keeping the other

Science education and 0 (zero) otherwise. Attendance of formal explanatory variable constant. Since owning farm tools

of education for small scale farmer increases the helps to cultivate, earth up, weed and harvest the crop, probability of taro yield obtained per households in 1.6 it has positive role in productivity of taro in the district. times, holding the other explanatory variables constant. Hence, enabling the small scale farmers to have

Journal The Attendance in formal education improved the adequate farm tools could promote the productivity of awareness of the small scale farmers in following cropping and needs project support for provision. improved cultivation techniques and enable to share Yield of other major crops cultivated: The coefficients of Global experience from others, the households that attended the estimate was .368. The result implies that the yield formal education own better yield of the taro, in obtained from other major crops such as cassava, teff, comparison to households that did not attended formal sorghum and common bean own positive role in the education, yield of Taro. The extent of care taken for one major Extent of Family drop outs: This is one of the estimates crops provokes production cares to be taken for other

that affected negatively the level of taro productivity in crops cultivated ,consequently, the yield collected form the household in the study district. The coefficients of one crop induces farmers to cultivate, weed and harvest the specific independent variables was -2.15.The in better manner and to earn more from the subsequent regression result confirmed that when the number of crops.

Market Distance: The parameter estimate for variable negatively influenced the extent of improved taro yield market distance was -.389. This indicates that the collected per households. The study result confirmed farming communities that located nearest to market that enabling the farming communities to attend formal point collect better yield of taro in comparison to farmer education, owning adequate farm tools and improving that found distant away from marketing point, given all the farm management capabilities ought to be the major other independent variables fixed. The research finding assignment for the projects and other agricultural confirmed that the informal institution the so called development programs working in the district. market have significant role in the productivity of taro in One of the challenges exist in the study area is the study district. Hence linking the improved taro variety lack adequate of improved taro seed, erratic rain fall, producer to the market, adoption of value chain untimely supply of the seed, awareness problem in development in form of cattle fattening, milling and value addition practices using taro as livestock branding the powder of the crop could optimize the supplement, which is pertinent for improvement of yield productivity and support in food and nutritional security and efficient utilization of the resources thereby improve 201 of the farming community. the food and nutritional security of farming communities r ea

in sustainable manner. Y IV. Conclusion and Recommendations References Références Referencias 951 The study reveals that the contribution of taro on the overall livelihoods of the beneficiaries is 1. African Bioscience Challenge Fund. 2012. Viruses significantly high. The impact of Boloso-1-Taro ranges infecting the food crop Taro (Colocasia esculenta from saving life to reducti on of migration and school L.) in Ethiopia. National Agricultural Biotechnology dropout rates. It has also diversified income for the Laboratory, Holetta Research Centre, Ethiopian V beneficiary farmers in general and able to generate Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Ethiopia. IV

income from selling taro production that empowered ue ersion I

2. CSA (Centeral Statistical Agency).2014. Federal s women and changed the family’s living status. Hunger Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical s and complete poverty has been eradicated from the Agency, Agricultural Sample Survey 2014/15 I project sites mainly due to taro intervention. The Volume I Report On Area and Production of Major XVI interviewed farmers also confirmed that the improved Crops. 578 Statistical Bulletin. Ababa, Ethiopia. taro variety played a significant role in price stabilization P125. in the district, which justified by the market price 3. CSA (Central Statistical Agencey).2014.Federal reduction of common food crops after intervention in the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical ) D district. Taro is better than most common crops interims Agency, Population projection of Ethiopia for all ( of yield per hectare, adaptability to different areas, regions at Woreda level from 20114-20117.Addis market stability, drought tolerance, contribution to family Ababa, Ethiopia.p118. health and scalability. In relation climate resilience, 4. Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology. higher productivity per ha ,multipurpose function of the Methods and techniques. (2nd ED): New Age Research Volume improved taro variety for both human food and livestock International. New Delhi. India. supplement and adaptability to various range of 5. Tewodros Mulualem, Getachew WeldeMichael and weather, adequate and timely Improved taro seed Kifle Belachew.2013.Genetic Diversity of Taro Frontier dissemination, adoption of value chain development (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) Genotypes in cattle fattening, milling and linking producers to market Ethiopia Based on Agronomic Traits. Time Journals

benefit and scaling up believed further optimize the crop of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences Vol. 1(2). Science productivity there by play a significant role in nutritional Jimma Agricultural Research Centre, Jimma, P.O. of and food security improvement of the communities. Box 192, Ethiopia. Regression result of factors determining the 6. Yared Dagne, Tewodros Mulualem, Asfaw productivity of improved Boloso 1 taro indicated that the Kifle.2014. Development of High Yielding Taro Journal productivity of the specific crop varies across farming (Colocacia esculenta L.) Variety for Mid Altitude community due to social, cultural, natural and Growing Areas of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of

environmental capability of the households. From Plant Sciences. Vol. 2, No. 1, 2014, pp. 50-54. doi: Global explanatory variables used in the regression, attendance 10.11648/j.jps.20140201.19 . in formal education, extent of family drop outs, quantity 7. Yared Dagne1, Tewodros Mulualem.2014.Exploring of farm tools the household own, yield of other major Indigenous Knowledge and Production Constraints crops and market distance to farmers’ residence of Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.(SCHOTT)) Cultivars significantly affected productivity of improved taro. Grown at Dalbo Watershed, Wolaita Zone of South Attendance in formal education, farm tools owned, other Ethiopia.Areka Agriculture Research Center, major crops yield positively affected the productivity, P.O.Box-79, Areka, Ethiopia. Jimma Agriculture while the extent of family drop outs and market distance Research Center, P.O. Box- 192, Jimma, Ethiopia.

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